EP1852838A1 - Spielgerät, Steuerung für ein Spielgerät, Spielsystem und Spielverfahren - Google Patents

Spielgerät, Steuerung für ein Spielgerät, Spielsystem und Spielverfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1852838A1
EP1852838A1 EP07107528A EP07107528A EP1852838A1 EP 1852838 A1 EP1852838 A1 EP 1852838A1 EP 07107528 A EP07107528 A EP 07107528A EP 07107528 A EP07107528 A EP 07107528A EP 1852838 A1 EP1852838 A1 EP 1852838A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ticket
data
bill
controller
gaming machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07107528A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
John Leslie Boesen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2006902359A external-priority patent/AU2006902359A0/en
Application filed by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Publication of EP1852838A1 publication Critical patent/EP1852838A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
    • G07F17/3248—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the field of gaming machines.
  • a controller for a gaming machine the controller adapted to receive data from a bill acceptor that may represent bill data or ticket data, the controller arranged to process the data and to:
  • a controller further adapted to receive remainder data from the ticket processing mechanism and control a printer to print a ticket having a value specified by the remainder data.
  • a gaming machine comprising:
  • a gaming machine further comprising a ticket printer, and wherein the controller is adapted to receive remainder data from the ticket processing mechanism and control the printer to print a ticket having a valued specified by the remainder data.
  • a gaming system comprising:
  • the ticket processing mechanism is configured to process the ticket data and determine whether the ticket data is valid ticket data.
  • a gaming system wherein the ticket processing mechanism is arranged to process valid ticket data to form credit data and output the credit data to the game controller.
  • the gaming system further comprises a ticket printer, and the controller is adapted to receive remainder data from the ticket processing mechanism and control the printer to print a ticket having a valued specified by the remainder data.
  • the ticket processing mechanism is arranged to process the valid ticket data based on a minimum denomination of the game controller to produce credit data and remainder data having a combined value corresponding to the value of the valid ticket data.
  • the ticket processing mechanism comprises a server for validating the ticket data and a client for processing the ticket data.
  • a method of processing data comprising:
  • the method comprises processing said ticket data to determine whether it is valid.
  • the method comprises processing valid ticket data to form credit data and outputting said credit data to the game controller.
  • the method comprises processing the valid ticket data to produce credit data and remainder data based on a minimum denomination of the game controller, the credit data and remainder data having the same combined value as the ticket data.
  • the method comprises printing a ticket having a value specified by said remainder data.
  • a system for use with a gaming machine comprising an electronic processing part that is arranged to perform the steps of:
  • the electronic processing part is further arranged to cause the printer to print another ticket, that is associated with a first monetary value, that is less than a second monetary value associated with the ticket.
  • a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the method further comprises the step of issuing a printer with a print ticket message to cause the printer to print another ticket that is associated with a first monetary value that is less than a second monetary value associated with the ticket.
  • An advantage of embodiments of the invention is that they enable a gaming machine to process the ticket and apply the appropriate game credits even though the gaming controller is not able to process tickets. Thus, a person playing the gaming machine need not go through the time consuming and potentially annoying process of obtaining a ticket from the machine and then going to the cashier with the ticket to obtain their monies.
  • An advantage of those embodiments where a ticket is printed is that they facilitate the scenario where the gaming machine accepts, for example, $1.00 denominations only but a person inserts a ticket with the value of, for example, $1.67. Being able to print a ticket allows $1.00 to be credited on the gaming machine and print a ticket with a value of $.0.67.
  • the $0.67 ticket could, for example, be inserted into a $0.01 machine or presented to the cashier to collect $0.67.
  • vendors can retrofit gaming machines to support insertion of tickets at a fraction of the cost of replacing the gaming machine.
  • the system 100 includes at least one electronic gaming machine 102 (EGM) in the form of a typical slot machine that is produced by companies such as Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, and retrofit system 104 based on the same principle as the system 6000 product from Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd for remote credit transfer.
  • EMM electronic gaming machine 102
  • retrofit system 104 based on the same principle as the system 6000 product from Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd for remote credit transfer.
  • the electronic gaming machine 102 comprises several components including: a gaming board 106; a backplane 108 (that is, a data bus); a bill acceptor 110; a thermal printer 112; a button panel 114; a video monitor 116; and an electronic controller 118.
  • the gaming board 106 is electrically coupled to the backplane 108.
  • the bill acceptor 110 and the thermal printer 112 are electrically coupled to the electronic controller.
  • the gaming board 106 is in data communication with the bill acceptor 110 and the thermal printer 112 via the backplane 108 and controller 118.
  • a thermal printer is preferred because tickets they print work well with bill acceptors.
  • the button panel 114 and the video monitor 116 are also coupled (electrically) to the backplane 108.
  • the electronic controller 118 is electrically connected to the bill acceptor 110 and the thermal printer 112 via any appropriate links such as serial RS232 links 120 and 122.
  • the electronic controller 118 is also electrically connected to the backplane 108 and further connected to the retrofit system 104 via a serial RS232 link 124.
  • the backplane 108 is electrically connected to the retrofit system 104 via an appropriate data communication link 126, for example one that supports the x-series protocol, which is a protocol used in New South Wales, Australia.
  • the gaming board 106 is essentially a computer motherboard and is installed with a memory device (such as an EPROM) that contains one or more game programmes such as Queen of the Nile from Aristrocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the gaming board 106 executes the one or more game programmes stored in the memory device and thus provides an electronic game controller.
  • the button panel 114 and the video monitor 116 enable persons to interact with the games. More specifically, the button panel 114 allows persons to operate the games, while the video monitor presents the game to the persons.
  • the system 100 includes a retrofit system 104 in the form of a modified system 6000 product from Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
  • the retrofit system of the preferred embodiment provides a ticket processing mechanism that allows an inserted ticket to be processed in a manner such that this is not apparent to the gaming board 106.
  • the retrofit system 104 essentially comprises a personal computer 128 and a database 130 that provides a head system 136, and an electronic control unit 132. Although shown as separate to the gaming machine in Figure 1, the electronic control unit may be provided in a number of locations but is typically provided within the electronic gaming machines casing on a separate circuit board.
  • the electronic control unit 132 may be referred to as a "Ticket Client” as it is a client to the head system that is the "Ticket Master".
  • the retrofit system 104 also includes a data communication link 134 which may be in the form of an RS485 link or another appropriate link such as Ethernet, which is electrically coupled to the personal computer 128 of the head system 136 and the electronic control unit 132 to allow data to be exchanged therebetween.
  • the data link 124 which is electrically coupled to the controller 118, is electrically connected to the control unit 132 to allow the controller 118 and the control unit 132 to exchange data with each other.
  • the data link 126 which is electrically connected to the backplane 108, is also electrically connected to the electronic control unit 132.
  • the system 100 is distinguishable over similar existing systems in that it includes the controller 118 in the gaming machine 102, which is not present in existing gaming machines. Furthermore, the control unit 132 of the retrofit system 104 provides additional functionality not provided in similar existing retrofit systems.
  • the controller 118 which is in the form of a microprocessor (or microcontroller) based electronic board, it is arranged to monitor data messages generated by the bill acceptor 110. In particular, when a person inserts a bill (such as $5.00 or $10.00 note) or a ticket into the bill acceptor 110 the bill acceptor 110 will generate data that is received by the controller 118 via the data link 120.
  • the bill acceptor data processor 119a of the controller 118 will process the data to determine whether a bill or a ticket has been inserted into the bill acceptor 110 (that is to determine whether it is bill or ticket data). That is, the data generated by the bill acceptor 110 will include data indicating whether a bill or ticket has been inserted into the bill acceptor 110.
  • processor 119a of controller 118 determines that a bill has been inserted into the bill acceptor 110
  • processor 119a of the controller 118 places a bill insertion message onto the backplane 108. That is, the controller outputs (or issues) a bill insertion message including the bill data to the gaming board via the backplane.
  • the gaming board 106 On detecting the presence of the bill insertion message, the gaming board 106 will give the player the amount of game credits equivalent to the bill inserted into the bill acceptor 110.
  • controller 118 On the other hand if on processing the data from the bill acceptor 110 the processor 119a of controller 118 determines that a ticket has been inserted into the bill acceptor 110, the controller 118 will issue the control unit 132 with a ticket insertion message 124a via the link 124.That is, the controller outputs (or issues) a ticket insertion message including the ticket data to the control unit 132 of the ticket processing mechanism.
  • the control unit 132 On receiving the ticket insertion message the control unit 132 communicates with the personal computer 128 which acts as a server (just as the control unit 132 acts as a client) (via link 134) to seek confirmation that the ticket inserted into the bill acceptor 110 is valid.
  • the ticket has a barcode printed thereon and the information encoded in the barcode is contained in the ticket insertion message.
  • the information related to the barcode that is in the ticket insertion message is provided to the personal computer 128 by a ticket insertion message processor 133a of the control unit 132 so that the ticket can be verified when the personal computer 128 is 'asked' 134a by the control unit 132 to verify the ticket, it checks the database 130 for the existence of a record that corresponds to the information in the ticket insertion message.
  • the ticket insertion message processor also stores the ticket insertion message in memory 133b.
  • the memory may be persistent so that in the event of a power failure it is possible to determine the state immediately before power loss occurred and take the necessary actions to cleanup or
  • the personal computer 128 will inform the control unit 132, by way of sending an electronic message, of the existence of a corresponding record. If the electronic message 134b received from the personal computer 128 indicates that no corresponding record exists, an invalid ticket handler 133c of the control unit 132 will assume that the ticket is invalid and instruct (by sending an electronic message 124b via link 124) the controller 118 accordingly, the control unit will also clear the message from memory 133b. An invalid ticket handler 119b of the controller 118 will in turn instruct the bill acceptor 110 to reject the ticket.
  • the personal computer 128 determines that a corresponding record exists in the database 130 it will advise the control unit 132 accordingly (by sending an electronic message 134c via link 134), which in effect is an indication that the ticket is valid and which also contains the value of the ticket.
  • a credit processor places a game credit message 126a containing credit data onto the backplane 108 via link 126 that defines the correct amount of credit.
  • the gaming board 106 will provide the appropriate number of game credits in the same way as if a bill had been inserted into the bill acceptor 110.
  • the credit processor 133d of control unit 132 may issue a print ticket message 124c containing remainder data to the controller 118 via the link 124.
  • the remainder data specifies the difference in value between the credit data and the original ticket data.
  • the controller 118 will instruct the printer 112 to print a ticket sending the print ticket message on to the printer 112 via the link 122. If the credit processor control unit 132 issues the print ticket message 124c, it will also inform the personal computer 128 that the message 124c has been issued.
  • the personal computer 128 will inturn make a record of the ticket in the database 130 so that if that particular ticket is inserted into the bill acceptor 110 at a later date (or any other ticket reading device, such as one that might be used by a cashier) the ticket can be verified as previously described.
  • the advantage of allowing the control unit 132 to be able to effect the printing of a ticket is that, for example, if the ticket has a value of $1.67 and the gaming machine only accepts $1.00 denominations, the game credit message issued by the control unit can be for the value of $1.00, while the remaining $0.67 can be issued on a ticket.
  • the $0.67 ticket could subsequently be inserted into a $0.01 gaming machine to obtain 67 game credits or redeemed for money at a cashier.
  • the credit processor 133d is configured to split the value of the ticket based on the minimum acceptable denomination of gaming machine 102.
  • the gaming board 106 which provides an electronic gaming controller for control of a play of games will not be aware of the existence of the electronic controller 118.
  • the controller 118 monitors all communication between the bill acceptor, the printer and the gaming board. Most communications pass through but others are intercepted, in particular ticket insertion messages received from the bill acceptor 110. Thus at step 210 it determines whether the bill acceptor has communicated that a ticket has been inserted. If the answer is no it allows communications to flow through to the gaming board 106 without interfering. That is it outputs the message previously provided by the bill acceptor 112 to the gaming board 106 via backplane 108. If at step 210 the answer is yes, the electronic controller 118 intercepts the message and outputs it via link 124 to electronic control unit 132 for validation.
  • the electronic control unit 132 determines whether the ticket is valid by querying the head system 136 at step 220. If it receives an invalid ticket response from the head system 136 it rejects the ticket at step 250. If it receives a message that the ticket is valid from the head system 136, the electronic control unit 132 retrieves the value of the ticket, determines the credit amount and the remainder amount. At step 240 the credit amount is transferred to the backplane 108 where it is picked up by the gaming board. The remainder amount is transferred to the electronic controller 118. Accordingly, assuming the transfer is determined to be successful at step 245 the ticket is accepted at 260 and if a remainder amount is remaining as determined at step 265 a ticket for the remainder amount is printed at step 270. The method then returns to the monitoring state 205.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
EP07107528A 2006-05-05 2007-05-04 Spielgerät, Steuerung für ein Spielgerät, Spielsystem und Spielverfahren Withdrawn EP1852838A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2006902359A AU2006902359A0 (en) 2006-05-05 A system and method for use with a gaming machine
AU2006252005A AU2006252005B2 (en) 2006-05-05 2006-12-12 A system and method for use with a gaming machine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1852838A1 true EP1852838A1 (de) 2007-11-07

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EP07107528A Withdrawn EP1852838A1 (de) 2006-05-05 2007-05-04 Spielgerät, Steuerung für ein Spielgerät, Spielsystem und Spielverfahren

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AU (3) AU2006252005B2 (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020111206A1 (en) 2000-10-19 2002-08-15 F. Van Baltz Apparatus and method for retrofitting gaming machines to issue and redeem tickets
US20050040225A1 (en) 2000-02-11 2005-02-24 Csulits Frank M. System and method for processing currency bills and documents bearing barcodes in a document processing device
US20050060055A1 (en) * 2003-09-15 2005-03-17 Hallowell Curtis W. System and method for searching and verifying documents in a document processing device
US20060073883A1 (en) 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc. Casino all in kiosk for cash, tickets, and cards, with card issuing capability

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2007100046C4 (en) * 2006-05-05 2010-05-27 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited A system and method for use with a gaming machine
WO2008127870A2 (en) * 2007-04-13 2008-10-23 Igt Gaming machine reservation system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050040225A1 (en) 2000-02-11 2005-02-24 Csulits Frank M. System and method for processing currency bills and documents bearing barcodes in a document processing device
US20020111206A1 (en) 2000-10-19 2002-08-15 F. Van Baltz Apparatus and method for retrofitting gaming machines to issue and redeem tickets
WO2003028826A1 (en) 2001-10-01 2003-04-10 Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and method for retrofitting gaming machines to issue and redeem tickets
US20050060055A1 (en) * 2003-09-15 2005-03-17 Hallowell Curtis W. System and method for searching and verifying documents in a document processing device
US20060073883A1 (en) 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc. Casino all in kiosk for cash, tickets, and cards, with card issuing capability

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2010200505A1 (en) 2010-03-04
AU2008203467A1 (en) 2008-08-21
AU2010200505B2 (en) 2011-11-03
AU2006252005B2 (en) 2008-07-31
AU2006252005A1 (en) 2007-05-17

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